Compare
Four Roses Small Batch Select vs Ezra Brooks 99
Comparing Four Roses Small Batch Select and Ezra Brooks 99 reveals a matchup between a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple and a blender-built, even-keeled bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Small Batch Select | Ezra Brooks 99 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 6 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 104 proof (52% ABV) +5 proof | 99 proof (49.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $65 | ~$22 – $28 ~$35 less |
- Ezra Brooks 99 does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Four Roses Small Batch Select
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Ezra Brooks 99
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Small Batch Select Ezra Brooks 99
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 8/2 fruit: Four Roses Small Batch Select 8 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 2 out of 10
spice 7/4 spice: Four Roses Small Batch Select 7 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/5 nuttiness: Four Roses Small Batch Select 3 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10
oak 6/5 oak: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10
heat 6/5 heat: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Fruit character is what sets these apart.
- Four Roses Small Batch Select: Six recipes, non-chill-filtered, at 104 proof, and the most complete thing Four Roses makes at a normal price. The house fruit character with enough proof and texture to carry it.
- Ezra Brooks 99: A high-proof value bottle from Lux Row. The nose is quiet, but the palate is bolder, with creamy caramel, brown sugar and a nutty, peanut-like edge.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Four Roses Small Batch Select if you want the fullest expression of the Four Roses fruit-forward style without chasing an allocated bottle with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
- Go with Ezra Brooks 99 if you want a high-proof, nutty, caramel-forward everyday bourbon at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Four Roses Small Batch Select); rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Ezra Brooks 99).